Aryna Sabalenka continued her unbeaten start to 2026 as her straight-sets victory over Zhuoxuan Bai saw her reach the third round of the Australian Open.

The world number one secured a 6-3 6-1 win in an hour and 14 minutes with a near-ruthless display in Melbourne.

Despite a slow start with her own serve, Sabalenka converted her first two break point opportunities of the match to race into a 4-0 lead, with Bai failing to win a point in her first two service games.

Sabalenka squandered six set points before eventually taking the first, and a straightforward second, which saw Sabalenka break Bai’s serve three times, booked the Belarusian’s place in the third round.

Coco Gauff joined Sabalenka in the next round with a clinical display against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic, with the American winning 6-2 6-2.

Gauff showed great skill with her returns in the first, converting three break points, while she conceded just five points across her four service games in the second as she brushed her counterpart aside.

Emma Raducanu, meanwhile, suffered an early exit in Australia following her 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 defeat to Anastasia Poptapova.

Mirra Andreeva showed little sign of struggle as she beat Maria Sakkari 6-0 6-4, while Victoria Mboko, who lost to Andreeva in the Adelaide International final last week, overcame Caty McNally in a 6-4 6-3 win.

25 - Since 2000, only Serena Williams (26) and Iga Swiatek (27) have claimed 25 Grand Slam match wins as WTA #1 in fewer matches than Aryna Sabalenka (28). Elite.#AusOpen | @AustralianOpen @WTA pic.twitter.com/xOChkkHE0d

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 21, 2026

Data Debrief: Just another day at the office for Sabalenka and Gauff

Since 2000, only Serena Williams (26) and Iga Swiatek (27) have claimed 25 grand slam match wins as WTA number 1 in fewer matches than Sabalenka (28).

And since 2022, Gauff (14-0) is one of the four players, along with Sabalenka, Swiatek & Elina Svitolina, to have an unbeaten record in the second round at women's singles grand slams (minimum 10 appearances).

Andreeva, meanwhile, became the youngest player to claim consecutive sets with a 6-0 scoreline in women's singles at the Australian Open since Anna Kournikova in 2000 and youngest player to reach three consecutive women’s singles third rounds at the competition since Nicole Vaidisova (2005-2007).